Staten Island Yankees had solid season. Too bad few fans were there to see it

Team President Will Smith is still optimistic about turning things around.

A successful season for the Staten Island Yankees ended last night, when the Bronx Bombers’ minor league affiliate was eliminated from the New York-Penn League playoffs after losing to the Hudson Valley Renegades 7-1. But the more important number wasn’t on the scoreboard, it was in the stands, where just 569 fans bothered to show up.

As reported in Crain's earlier this summer, attendance has dropped by two-thirds since 2010 and fell by another 9% this year, to an all-time low of 2,040 per game. In spite of the dwindling crowds, the team’s president, Will Smith, is optimistic about the future.

“I feel good about our direction,” he said. “It takes time to turn around the Titanic.”

Some of Staten Island’s attendance woes stem from factors beyond Smith’s control. Richmond County Bank Ballpark is stuck in the middle of a massive construction zone, between the Empire Outlets mall and the stalled New York Wheel. The mall is expected to be completed by next spring, but there is no end in sight for the giant Ferris wheel after the developer fired the construction firm this summer over missed deadlines.

“It’s a bummer,” Smith acknowledged, adding that the club lost three home dates due to rain, including its opening day.

But despite the challenges, the team is expected to see double-digit percentage increases in net income thanks to streamlining on the business side.

The SI Yankees aren’t the only area baseball squad with declining attendance. The New York Mets have seen crowds fall by 10% during this disappointing season, according to BaseballReference.com. The Mets-affiliated Brooklyn Cyclones, who play in the same league as Staten Island, saw attendance fall by 8% this year, to an average of 5,190 per game. The Yankees, fielding a competitive team led by young stars Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez, have seen crowds rise by 2% so far this season, but are still on track to draw 15% less than in 2010, their high-water mark in the new Yankee Stadium.

To boost revenue, Smith said he is preparing to host more events at the ballpark, starting in late November with “Winter Wonderland Staten Island,” slated to last through about the end of the year and offer ice skating, an igloo-themed bar, bowling and other activities. Revenue above a certain threshold would be shared with the city, which owns the ballpark.

The next big item on the agenda is what to do about the team’s name. Figuring that the Yankee brand repelled as many local fans as it attracted, the team last year considered changing its name to something more provocative, like the Pizza Rats or Bridge Trolls. Smith doesn’t think the name will change for the 2018 season, but probably will after that.

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